Apprenticeship, and My Junior Sister Zhu Zhuqing

The next morning.

Daylight slipped through the gaps in the wooden window and fell softly beside the bed.

After a long while, the girl's eyelashes fluttered. Her fingers curled slightly, and then Zhu Zhuqing slowly sat up.

She opened her eyes.

She found herself in a simple, clean wooden room, washed in warm light. A delicate herbal fragrance lingered in the air.

Warm. Safe. Peaceful.

Unfamiliar, yet it let her relax completely.

She shifted and felt sore and weak all over, but her mind was clearer than it had ever been.

Warmth filled her body, bringing a sense of comfort and security she had never known.

"Where am I...?"

Zhu Zhuqing murmured and looked around in confusion.

Then voices came from outside:

"Xiao Lan, stop moving around. Help me prepare the Blue Butterfly Flower."

"What? You said the girl inside is awake? I'll go check!"

Light footsteps approached. Then—

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Zhu Zhuqing, are you awake?"

A clear young voice called out. "You were unconscious, so we brought you back to our home. And don't worry—we weren't the ones who changed your clothes. Xiao Lan did."

At that, Zhu Zhuqing looked down and saw that she was indeed wearing different clothes.

As she listened to the familiar voice outside, her memories slowly returned.

She had gone out to hunt for her second Soul Ring, fled amid the chaos, and been pursued. Then there was the young man's green Eternal Barrier, the gentle, healing energy of plants, the powerful grandfather and grandson, and...

That young man's bizarre Soul Rings!

At the thought, Zhu Zhuqing sat bolt upright, got out of bed, and pushed open the door.

The black-haired young man came into view. A small jade-green cauldron floated beside him, covered in colorful patterns. The Red Leaves, Colorful Spirit Deer, and Jade Ancient Tree stood out most clearly, shimmering with light.

The Five-Colored Medicine Flame burned in his hand as he added Spirit Herbs to the cauldron. Their fragrance spread through the air.

"Morning! You're awake. Give me a moment—I'm almost done."

Jiang Baiyu greeted Zhu Zhuqing with his free hand.

"Awake?"

Su Wu approached with a bowl of hot soup and offered it to Zhu Zhuqing. "Have something to eat."

"Thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing took it. Looking at the kindly old man before her, she felt gratitude well up in her cool eyes.

Just then, the jade-green cauldron trembled. The flame vanished, and the cauldron flew over, revealing several pills that smelled of fresh herbs.

"Haha, I did it!" Jiang Baiyu laughed. He had recently been training himself to refine medicine while distracted, but despite all his practice, he had never quite found the trick. After absorbing his third Soul Ring, he had finally succeeded.

Seeing him laugh reminded Zhu Zhuqing of his outrageous Soul Ring configuration.

She turned to the two of them and bowed.

"I am Zhu Zhuqing. Senior, young sir, thank you for saving my life yesterday."

"If you two hadn't intervened, I would already be dead."

Her voice was still weak, but every word was sincere and solemn.

Thinking of Jiang Baiyu's Soul Rings, Zhu Zhuqing set down her bowl. She looked at Su Wu with unwavering resolve, dropped to both knees, and bowed her head.

"Senior, please accept me as your disciple."

Her resolve was plain.

Su Wu had already considered taking her as a disciple. "Get up, get up."

Zhu Zhuqing refused to budge. "Not unless you accept me, Senior."

"What do you think, Grandpa? Do you want this junior sister?" Jiang Baiyu asked from the side.

"Get up." Su Wu shot his grandson a glare for teasing her, then turned back to the kneeling girl. "What, don't you even plan to look at your master's face?"

At his words, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up. Years of loneliness and the helplessness of being hunted and driven from place to place finally gave way to a sense that she belonged somewhere.

With utmost respect, she completed the full apprenticeship ceremony, kneeling three times and bowing nine.

"Your disciple Zhu Zhuqing greets you, Master."

"From this day on, I enter Su Wu's school. I will honor my master and never betray what is right."

Su Wu smiled at the earnest girl. "Good. Then you're my disciple. Come, this is your senior brother, Jiang Baiyu. You've met him already."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the smiling young man beside her. "Greetings, Senior Brother."

"No need to be formal." Jiang Baiyu smiled and handed her the pills from the cauldron. "Here's a welcome gift from your senior brother. They're healing pills to help you recover."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Zhu Zhuqing accepted them.

"There's one more member of the family," Su Wu said, leading Zhu Zhuqing into the courtyard.

Zhu Zhuqing looked around the elegant little courtyard. Low gray walls enclosed a quiet space, where a winding stone path ran between large, neatly arranged beds of Spirit Herbs.

Along the edges grew patches of Tranquilizing Grass. Their slender leaves glimmered faintly with silver light, releasing a mildly bitter, calming scent whenever the breeze stirred them. Farther in stood Purple-Stem Spirit Orchids, their buds wreathed in a faint purple haze and their roots sunk deep into the rich soil, their energy held quietly within.

There were also broad patches of Redblood Flowers, Blue-Patterned Leaves, and Nine-Leaf Stone Bamboo. Their thick leaves shone with moisture. Every plant flourished in the mountain's energy, full of life.

A few older, low-growing medicinal trees dotted the beds. Their sturdy branches and spreading foliage complemented the herbs below.

A rich but gentle medicinal fragrance filled the air, mingling with the scent of damp earth. The freshness of growing things surrounded her.

Among the beds, a Blue Silver Grass wound its way between the plants, carefully tending every Spirit Herb in the courtyard.

As Zhu Zhuqing approached, the Blue Silver Emperor's leaves tensed. Wary of the stranger, she gently placed herself in front of the Medicine Garden.

Zhu Zhuqing paused, surprise flickering in her eyes.

This Blue Silver Grass is so perceptive. How powerful a Soul Beast must she be?

Jiang Baiyu stepped forward and soothed the Blue Silver Emperor.

"Don't be afraid, Xiao Lan. She's one of us. This is Zhu Zhuqing—she'll be my junior sister from now on."

He raised a hand, releasing a gentle, pure aura of the Medicine Dao. The Blue Silver Emperor seemed to relax. Her leaves spread, and she curled softly around Jiang Baiyu's fingers.

Then the Blue Silver Emperor slowly extended a vine to sense the girl's aura. Her hostility faded. After a moment's hesitation, a tender vine brushed Zhu Zhuqing's sleeve, offering her a thread of pure life energy as though to comfort and welcome her.

Feeling the Blue Silver Emperor's goodwill, Zhu Zhuqing's cool eyes softened ever so slightly.

Once Zhu Zhuqing had met Xiao Lan, Su Wu laid out three simple rules for his disciples.

"Zhuqing, there are only three Dao Rules you need to follow under me."

"First, keep kindness in your heart. Never kill the innocent without cause."

"Second, the plants in this courtyard are living beings. Treat all things with care."

"Third, never fight to the death with a fellow disciple."

Zhu Zhuqing committed them to memory. Her usually expressionless face grew even more solemn. "I understand, Master."

Su Wu nodded gently.

"That's all I ask. Your injuries haven't healed, so there's no need to rush into cultivation. Rest here in the courtyard for now. You'll recover within a month."

"All right," Zhu Zhuqing said.